Do you know what causes neck and shoulder pain? Do you know what you can do to stop it? There are several useful tips to solve this problem?
The causes for which the neck hurts are very varied, but sometimes it has to do with bad postures or stress-derived tension. Only in a few cases this type of pain is related to some serious pathology. Find out more about it in this article.
There are many people who refer to their neck hurts, but do not always know the reasons why this occurs. In turn, by ignoring the cause of this problem, they also have no elements of judgment to take the necessary measures and solve the difficulty.
There are many reasons why the neck hurts, although, in general, they are not usually related to a serious health problem. Despite this, it can never be ruled out that there is a situation that warrants a medical consultation, especially when the pain is very strong or persistent, or is accompanied by other severe symptoms.
In most cases, the neck hurts due to benign causes. It is very common that it is accompanied by pain in other areas that connect with it, such as the shoulders, back, head or jaw. However, it can often be overcome with basic care. So, find out what causes neck and shoulder pain and learn how to treat it.
Neck pain
Neck pain is often accompanied by discomfort in the shoulders and back. However, most of the time it is not a serious problem.
Neck pain may have different locations and intensities. Usually, it is a dull ache, which gets worse when you are forced to keep your head up for very long periods. This happens, for example, when you work at the computer or when you drive.
It is very common that neck pain is accompanied by spasms or stiffness in the muscles of the area. Also, it is common that when the neck hurts you also feel some degree of difficulty moving your head.
Neck pain can be a symptom of something serious when it persists for many days without relief or has too high intensity. If it radiates to the arms or legs, it is accompanied by tingling, weakness or a severe headache, it is necessary to consult the doctor as soon as possible.
Types of neck pain
Not all neck aches are the same. According to their nature, they can be classified as follows:
Muscle pain. It takes place in the muscles of the neck and shoulders. Frequently, small knots can be felt in the area, which are soft to the touch.
Muscle spasm. In this case there is a numbness that makes head movement difficult, since pain is experienced mainly when trying to make a turn.
Nerve pain. In this case there is involvement of the spinal nerves and the pain is experienced intensely and briefly, accompanied by punctures.
Bone pain. It is intense, uncommon and requires an immediate visit to the doctor.
Pain associated with the head. Often, it is felt on the neck, between the lower area of the head and the upper area of the neck. It is accompanied by a headache and is usually mild and persistent.
Referred pain. This type of pain only appears when a specific action is performed, which is not directly related to the neck. For example, eat or lift an object with your hands. It requires medical consultation.
Facet pain. It is felt in the vertebrae and usually radiates to the shoulder or upper back. It almost always gets worse in the morning, or after a long period of inactivity. In general, it is associated with arthritis.
How to stop neck pain?
In most cases, neck pain is the result of poor posture or sudden movement. However, it can also be a symptom of some injuries and illnesses.
The main reasons why the neck hurts are the following:
Bad posture. Obey an inappropriate posture when sitting or sleeping, mainly. Sometimes it is due to the pillow, the lack of support in the head or any factor by which the neck is misaligned and tense.
Anxiety or stress. These factors can lead to muscles contracting and causing pain. Both this factor and bad postures are the most frequent causes of neck pain.
Wear or degeneration. Age causes wear in the cervical area and this leads to degeneration of the vertebrae or the discs of the neck, which causes pain.
Cervical sprain. It is also known as “whiplash” and is an injury that occurs when the head moves forward and then backward, violently and suddenly.
Cervical Radiculopathy. It is characterized by pain radiating to the arms, with numbness and a feeling of punctures in them. It is caused by irritation of the nerves of the spinal cord.
Injury of the brachial plexus. It is accompanied by pain in the hand and is almost always caused by a car or sports accident.
Other causes. Other causes include cervical disc herniation, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, meningitis and cancer, among others.
Summarizing
There are many possible causes that explain why the neck hurts. Sometimes, it is simply the consequence of maintaining an inappropriate posture for a long time. However, sometimes it occurs due to an injury or illness. Therefore, if it is severe or is accompanied by other symptoms, the doctor should be consulted.
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